Ink fountain assembly for printing apparatus



June 2', 1964 o. v. DUTRO ETAL 3,135,197

INK FOUNTAIN ASSEMBLY FOR PRINT'ING APPARATUS Filed Oct. 19. 1961 INVENTORS. Orville V. Dufro By Sherman H. Hewson United States Patent "ice Calif.

Fiied Oct. 19, 1961, Ser. No. 146,172 6 Claims. (Cl. 101-364) This invention relates to an ink fountain for a printing press.

In conventional printing apparatus, it is the general practice to provide an ink fountain adapted to contain ink and defined on opposed sides thereof by an inclined wiper blade and a roller journalled at the ends thereof in side walls at each end of the wiper blade.

The Wiper blade is normally mounted in an inclined position on a support with the generally lowermost edge thereof extending in the same direction as the roller and positioned adjacent the outermost surface of the roller in wiping relationship thereto. The external surface of the roller is normally in contact with the ink in the fountain so that when the roller is rotated, a greater or lesser amount of the ink remains on the external surface, depending upon the position of the longitudinal edge of the wiper blade relative to the surface of the roller.

Heretofore, means in the nature of flat steel plates was utilized to provide the ends of the fountain by maintaining the inner faces of the plates in engagement with the proximal ends of the blade and roller. This assembly of elements, if properly constructed, gives satisfactory results. However, the disadvantage of such an assembly lies in the machining of the elements to provide the proper fit to preclude leakage of printing ink from the fountain formed thereby and the subsequent spillage onto the various wet-engaging rollers which must, of necessity, be kept clean. The blade must fit precisely between the plates and must have extremely sharp corners to effect a seal at the junctions of the blade and plates. If the blade loosely engages the plates or has a damaged corner edge, the ink will leak from the fountain past the loose edge of the blade and onto the rollers therebelow. If the blade fits too tightly against the plates, the blade will buckle and the wiper edge of the blade may not be properly positioned to distribute the ink uniformly over the roller.

The present invention overcomes the problems inherent in the use of the aforesaid steel plates by providing resilient sealing means at each end of the roller in contact with the latter and the corresponding ends of the blade to more effectively seal off the fountain against leakage of ink therefrom and to preclude having to fit exactly the parts forming the fountain. To this end, the sealing means comprises a member of yieldable material at each of said ends and provided with an innermost face which engages the roller in sealing relationship thereto. An elongated slot is provided in the innermost face of the member for complementally receiving the corresponding end edge of the blade so that the junction of the member with the blade and roller is sufficiently sealed off against the escape of ink by leakage from the ink fountain.

Means is also provided for maintaining the members in fixed positions relative to the blade and the roller, and a preferred form of such means includes a pair of recessed fastening elements adapted to be secured to the support between the roller and corresponding side walls of the printing press apparatus. It is noted that other forms, such as clamps and adhesives, may be utilized to mount the members in operative positions, so the use of the aforesaid elements is not limiting. The recess in each element is configured to complementally receive the corresponding sealing member to prevent relative motion CIR 3,135,197 Patented June 2, 1964 between element and member. Each element is further provided with an arcuate edge adapted to be disposed in surrounding relationship to the proximal portion of the roller so that the innermost face of the corresponding member may contact and bear against the proximal end face of the roller in sealing relationship to the latter.

It is, therefore, the primary object of the present invention to provide improved sealing means formed from a yieldable material for closing the ends of an ink fountain assembly of printing apparatus and formed by a wiper blade and a roller adjacent said blade, so that the sealing means, by virtue of the yieldability thereof, may be readily and quickly disposed over the ends of the wiper blade and against the roller in sealing relationship thereto without having to fit the parts together accurately, thus obviating the use of accurately machined metallic plates heretofore required to seal the ink fountain of the aforesaid character.

Yet another object of the present invention is the provision of a seal made of a material capable of resisting wear thereon while continuing to seal the ink fountain from loss of ink from the end areas thereof whereby the seal may be impressed against the rotatable, ink-receiving roller without losing its sealing capabilities over long periods of time, thus rendering it especially suitable for use with printing apparatus to prevent the inadvertent dripping or spilling of printing ink onto the printing press mechanism or the web material passing therethrough.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of a seal of the aforesaid type which is formed with a pair of opposed, substantially identical sealing faces, whereby the seals of a particular ink fountain assembly may be cross-switched to render each seal usable over longer periods of time.

Other objects of this invention will become apparent as the following specification progresses, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a cross-sectional view of the ink fountain assembly forming a part of conventional printing apparatus and illustrating the ink delivery roller disposed adjacent a rotating member and the wiper blade for controlling the amount of ink delivered to the member, the sealing means for sealing the ends of the fountain being shown in spanning relationship to the blade and roller;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary, plan View of a portion of the ink fountain assembly and illustrating the sealing means which forms the subject of the present invention in engagement with the ink delivery roller and the wiper blade, and further illustrating the means for securing the sealing means to a support;

FIG. 3 is an end elevational view of the fastening element for securing the sealing member in position relative to the roller and blade and further illustrating the recess means therein for receiving the corresponding member;

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of a sealing member adapted to seal one end of the ink fountain assembly and illustrating the elongated slot in one face thereof for complementally receiving the corresponding end edge of the wiper blade and further illustrating an arcuate edge adapted to partially embrace the proximal shaft portion of the ink delivery roller; and

FIG. 5 is an end elevational view of the sealing member illustrated in FIG. 4 and showing the slots therein in opposed faces thereof, rendering the same usable for either end of the fountain assembly.

An ink fountain assembly 10 is comprised of an ink delivery roller 12, having an external surface 14, and a pair of annular end faces 16 defined by shaft portions 18 extending outwardly from roller 12 in opposed directions and journalled in sides 20 forming a part of the printing apparatus with which assembly 10 is associated.

Each shaft portion 18 is provided with a stretch 22 of further reduced diameter relative to the diameter of roller 12 and stretch 22 is adapted to be operably coupled with a source of power for rotating the same and thereby roller 12 about the longitudinal axis thereof.

An elongated casting 24 spans the distance between and is secured to sides and provides a support for an elongated wiper blade 26 having a longitudinally extending edge 28 disposed adjacent the outer surface 14 of roller 12 in wiping relationship thereto. As shown in FIG. 1, casting 24 is provided with an inclined, uppermost surface 30 upon which is mounted an elongated bar 32 by virtue of a plurality of stud bolts 34 passing through openings 36 in casting 24. Bar 32 runs substantially the length of casting 24 and provides a spacer for mounting blade 26 in spaced relationship to the upper surface 30 of casting 24.

A plurality of screws 38 are threadably mounted in casting 24 in a longitudinally extending row adjacent edge 28. Each screw 38 is provided with a head 46 which may be rotated to manipulate the corresponding screw 38 to advance edge 28 toward surface 14 or permit the edge 28 to be shifted away from surface 14, it being noted that blade 26 is secured to bar 32 in a manner so that edge 28 is biased toward surface 30 of casting 24. By proper manipulation of screws 38, edge 28 may be configured to control the amount of ink carried away from the space between roller 12 and blade 26, it being clear that the ink is retained on the outer surface 14 of roller 12 by cohesion.

A transfer roller 42 is rotatably mounted in sides 29 in spaced relationship to roller 12, and an intermediate roller 44 is rotatably mounted on spaced, swingably mounted devices 46 adjacent sides 29. Devices 46 rock about the axis of revolution of a shaft 48 when the latter is oscillated so that roller 44 is alternately brought into contact with roller 12 and roller 42. When roller 44 contacts roller 12, ink is transferred from the latter to roller 44 and, when shaft 48 is oscillated to cause roller 44 to contact roller 42, the latter receives ink from roller 44 suflicient to supply ink to a plate cylinder operably coupled with roller 42 to print the material passing through the printing press apparatus.

Means is provided for sealing the ends of the ink fountain formed by surface 14 of roller 12 and the uppermost, inclined face of blade 26. The sealing means for sealing the ends of the aforesaid ink fountain forms the subject of the present invention and includes a pair of opposed sealing members 50 for sealing the opposed ends of the fountain defined by roller 12 and blade 26.

Each member 50 is generally triangular in configuration and is formed from a yieldable material such as rubber or neoprene, which is provided with high strength characteristics as well as high wear resistant characteristics rendering the material suitable for engaging the end faces 16 of roller 12. Each member 50 has a portion thereof removed to form an arcuate edge 52 defining one side thereof. In addition, each member 5ft is provided with an elongated slot 54 therein in each of the flat, substantially identical, opposed faces 56 and 58 thereof. Each slot 54 terminates at the junction 60 of sides 62 and 64 thereof and at a point 66 adjacent the arcuate edge 52, it being noted that slot 54 is substantially parallel with side 64 of member 50.

Means is provided for securing each member 50 to roller 12 and blade 26 in sealing relationship thereto and includes a generally triangular element 68 having a pair of substantially identical, opposed faces 70 and 72 provided with triangular-shaped recesses 74 therein. Each element 68 is of substantially the same configuration as the corresponding member 5d, but is of greater linear dimension for a purpose to be described. Each recess 74 of element 68 is adapted to complementally receive a corresponding member 50 and to this end each element 78 has a portion removed to form an arcuate side edge (not shown) which defines the convex side 76 of a corresponding recess 74 to complementally receive the arcuate edge 52 of member 50.

In use, each element 68 is secured to casting 24 by fastening means (not shown), passing into one side of element 68 from beneath casting 24 in the same manner as bolts 34 and screws 38. One element 68 is adapted to be positioned between the innermost surface of the corresponding side 2t), and the end face 15 of roller 12 in the manner set forth in FIG. 2. The corresponding sealing member 50 is complementally received within the proximal recess 74 so that an arcuate stretch of member 50 on the generally innermost face 56 thereof is in contact with end face 16 of roller 12 and in sealing relationship thereto. Further, the end edge of blade 26 is complementally received within the slot 54 in face 56 of member 50 so that the latter effectively seals the fountain for containing ink defined by surface 14 in the upper inclined face of blade 26. In the position illustrated in FIG. 2, therefore, face of element 68 is directed toward the fountain defined by surface 14 and blade 25. Likewise, face 56 of the member 50 associated with the element 68 in FIG. 2 presents the innermost face of member 50 adapted to contact the ink in the aforesaid fountain.

The element 68 at the opposite end of roller 12 is positioned. so that face 72 thereof provides the innermost face thereof relative to the fountain defined by surface 14 and blade 26. Likewise, face 58 of the corresponding member 50 receivable Within the recess 74 in face 72 presents the innermost face of member 59 and contacts the ink disposed within the aforesaid fountain. It is clear, therefore, that members 50 and element 68 are interchangeable and can be used at either end of roller 12 since each member 59 is provided with a slot 54 in each face 56 and 58 thereof and each element 68 is provided with member-receiving recesses 74 in the opposed faces 70 and 72 thereof.

When members 50 are disposed within the slots 54 and are positioned in sealing relationship to end faces 16 and the corresponding ends of blade 26, the arcuate edge of elements 68 are out of engagement with the shaft portions 18 of roller 12 and partially embrace the same as illustrated in FIG. 1. This permits at least an arcuate stretch of each of the members 50 to engage the corresponding end face 16 of roller 12 to thereby seal the fountain defined by surface 14 and blade 26 at the junction between member 50 and end face 16. By virtue of the yieldability of member 50, as well as the wear-re- .sistant characteristics thereof, member 50 maintains a highly effective seal against the leakage of ink between the junction of member 50 and end face 16, while at the same time permitting the rotation of roller 12 to deliver ink to the adjacent roller 44 and thereby to the cylinder 42. By virtue of the fact that the ends of blades 26 are complementally received within slots 54 of spaced members 50, no ink can flow past the junction of members 51 with blade 26, and therefore ink is effectively retained within the fountain formed by surface 14 and blade 26.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. In an ink fountain assembly for printing apparatus having a support secured to and spanning the distance between a pair of spaced sides, an elongated roller journalled at the ends thereof in said sides and having an external, ink-receiving surface, and an elongated, fiat, inclined Wiper blade mounted on said support and having a longitudinally extending, generally lowermost edge movable toward and away from said surface and disposed in wiping relationship thereto, the improvement of which comprises means adapted for spanning the distance between proximal ends of said roller and said blade to present with said surface and the upper face of said blade a fountain for containing ink, said means including a member of yieldable material engageable with proximal ends of said roller and blade in sealing relationship thereto, each of said members being provided with an elongated slot therein adjacent one marginal edge thereof for receiving the proximal end of the blade and adapted to be secured to said support adjacent a corresponding side.

2. In an ink fountain assembly for printing apparatus having a support secured to and spanning the distance between a pair of spaced sides, an elongated roller journalled at the ends thereof in said sides and having an external, ink-receiving surface, and an elongated, flat, inclined wiper blade mounted on said support and having a longitudinally extending, generally lowermost edge movable toward and away from said surface and disposed in wiping relationship thereto, the improvement of which comprises means adapted for spanning the distance between proximal ends of said roller and said blade to present with said surface and the upper face of said blade a fountain for containing ink, said means including a member of yieldable material engageable with proximal ends of said roller and blade in sealing relationship thereto, each of said members being of a generally triangular configuration and having an arcuate portion thereof removed at one side thereof to present an arcuate edge adapted to at least partially embrace the corresponding end of said roller, and an arcuate stretch adjacent the edge adapted to engage the roller in sail ing relationship thereto, each of the members being further provided with a generally innermost face having an elongated slot therein for receiving the proximal end of the blade and adapted to be secured to said support adjacent a corresponding side.

3. In an ink fountain assembly for printing apparatus having a support secured to and spanning the distance between a pair of spaced sides, an elongated roller having an external, ink-receiving surface and provided with opposed, outwardly extending shafts of reduced diameters at the ends thereof journalled in the sides and presenting opposed end faces on said roller in surrounding relationship to said shafts, and an elongated, flat, inclined wiper blade mounted on said support and having a longitudinally extending, generally lowermost edge movable toward and away from said surface and disposed in Wiping relationship thereto, the improvement of which comprises means adapted for spanning the distance between proximal ends of said roller and said blade to present with said surface and the upper face of said blade a fountain for containing ink, said means including a member of yieldable material engageable with the corresponding end face of the roller and the corresponding end of the blade in sealing relationship thereto, and means for securing the member to said support, said means including an element having a generally innermost face provided with a member receiving recess therein and adapted to be secured to said support between one of the end faces of said roller and the corresponding side.

4. In an ink fountain assembly as set forth in claim 3, wherein said element is of a generally triangular configuration and having an arcuate portion removed at one side thereof to present an arcuate edge adapted to partially embrace the corresponding shaft.

5. In an ink fountain assembly as set forth in claim 3, wherein each of said members is generally triangular and said recess in each of said elements is configured to complementally receive the corresponding member and to position the latter for engaging the corresponding end face of said roller.

6. In an ink fountain assembly as set forth in claim 3, wherein each of said members is provided with a generally innermost face engageable with the corresponding inner face of said roller in sealing relationship thereto and provided with an elongated slot in said innermost face for complementally receiving the corresponding end edge of said blade.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,158,334 Thompson Oct. 26, 1915 2,451,634 Ranger Oct. 19, 1948 2,922,364 Nitchie et a1 Jan. 26, 1960 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF. CORRECTION Patent No, 3,135, 19? June 2 l96 l Orville V. Dutro et al, It is hereby certified, that error appears in the above numbered patent requiring correction and that the said Letters Patent should read as correctedv below.

Column 5, lines'26 and27, for fisailing reed sealin g- Signed and sealed this let day of December 1964;

(SEAL) Attest:

1 ERNEST wswinEn I 1 Y EDWARDHJ. BRENNER Anesting Officer g Commis'sionefiof Patents 

1. IN AN INK FOUNTAIN ASSEMBLY FOR PRINTING APPARATUS HAVING A SUPPORT SECURED TO AND SPANNING THE DISTANCE BETWEEN A PAIR OF SPACED SIDES, AN ELONGATED ROLLER JOURNALLED AT THE ENDS THEREOF IN SAID SIDES AND HAVING AN EXTERNAL, INK-RECEIVING SURFACE, AND AN ELONGATED, FLAT, INCLINED WIPER BLADE MOUNTED ON SAID SUPPORT AND HAVING A LONGITUDINALLY EXTENDING, GENERALLY LOWERMOST EDGE MOVABLE TOWARD AND AWAY FROM SAID SURFACE AND DISPOSED IN WIPING RELATIONSHIP THERETO, THE IMPROVEMENT OF WHICH COMPRISES MEANS ADAPTED FOR SPANNING THE DISTANCE BETWEEN PROXIMAL ENDS OF SAID ROLLER AND SAID BLADE TO PRESENT WITH SAID SURFACE AND THE UPPER FACE OF SAID BLADE A FOUNTAIN FOR CONTAINING INK, SAID MEANS INCLUDING A MEMBER OF YIELDABLE MATERIAL ENGAGEABLE WITH PROXIMAL ENDS OF SAID ROLLER AND BLADE IN SEALING RELATIONSHIP THERETO, EACH OF SAID MEMBERS BEING PROVIDED WITH AN ELONGATED SLOT THEREIN ADJACENT ONE MARGINAL EDGE THEREOF FOR RECEIVING THE PROXIMAL END OF THE BLADE AND ADAPTED TO BE SECURED TO SAID SUPPORT ADJACENT A CORRESPONDING SIDE. 